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{{Short description|Sikh terrorist organisation}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox terrorist organization
| name             = Babbar Khalsa International
| native_name      = ਬੱਬਰ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ
| native_name_lang = pu
| other_name       = Lions of the [[Sikhism|True Faith]]<ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-06-24/news/8602140940_1_babbar-khalsa-air-india-flight-indian-cabinet-minister Sikh Unrest Spreads To Canada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202225949/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-06-24/news/8602140940_1_babbar-khalsa-air-india-flight-indian-cabinet-minister |date=February 2, 2014 }} [[Chicago Tribune]], 24 June 1986</ref>
| logo             = Babbar Khalsa International logo variation.png
| leader           = [[Wadhawa Singh Babbar]]{{KIA}}
| motives          = Creation of an independent state of [[Khalistan movement|Khalistan]] for [[Sikhs]] in the [[Punjab|Punjab region]] of [[South Asia]] (including some districts of neighbouring [[States and union territories of India|Indian states]])
| area             = Canada, [[Germany]], [[Pakistan]], United Kingdom<ref name="PublicSecurityCanadaCurrentlyListedEntities2"/>
| headquarters     = 
| ideology         = [[Khalistan movement|Sikh nationalism]], [[Punjabi nationalism|Punjabi separatism]]
| status           = Active
| designated_as_militant_group_by = {{plainlist|
* {{flag|Canada}}
* {{flag|European Union}}
* {{flag|India}}
* {{flag|Japan}}
* {{flag|Malaysia}}
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}
* {{flag|United States}}
}}
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1978|04}}
| founders         = [[Talwinder Singh Babbar]] and [[Sukhdev Singh Babbar]]
}}
'''Babbar Khalsa International''' ('''BKI''', {{lang-pa|ਬੱਬਰ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ}}, {{IPA-pa|bəbːəɾ xɑlsɑ|}}), better known as '''Babbar Khalsa''', is an organisation whose main objective is to create an independent [[Sikhs|Sikh]] country, [[Khalistan]]. Its supporters see it as a [[resistance movement]]. The organisation has been banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in several countries such as India, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Malaysia and the European Union. <ref>{{cite book|last1=Mahmood|first1=Cynthia Keppley|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&q=freedom&pg=PA45|title=Fighting for faith and nation ... – Google Books|date=November 1996|isbn=978-0-8122-1592-2|access-date=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uYOAQAAIAAJ&q=Babbar+Khalsa+freedom|title=India today – Google Books|date=2009-04-24|access-date=2009-08-09}}</ref> It operates in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Operation Bluestar|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20111114-isi-khalistan-punjab-militancy-babbar-khalsa-international-operation-bluestar-749584-2011-11-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522041351/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20111114-isi-khalistan-punjab-militancy-babbar-khalsa-international-operation-bluestar-749584-2011-11-05|archive-date=May 22, 2018|access-date=May 21, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="PublicSecurityCanadaCurrentlyListedEntities2">{{cite web|title=Currently listed entities|url=http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-eng.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702154136/http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-eng.aspx|archive-date=July 2, 2014|access-date=20 September 2013|publisher=Public Safety Canada|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="FirstPost_Base2">{{cite news|date=23 Feb 2018|title=India, Canada resolve to work together against Sikh militant outfits, terrorist groups like JeM, LeT|publisher=FirstPost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-canada-resolve-to-work-together-against-sikh-militant-outfits-terrorist-groups-like-jem-let-4364497.html|url-status=live|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022639/https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-canada-resolve-to-work-together-against-sikh-militant-outfits-terrorist-groups-like-jem-let-4364497.html|archive-date=July 20, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="TelegraphHQ2">{{cite news|date=24 October 2007|title=Enter Gurpreet, the Bilal of Ludhiana|publisher=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1071024/asp/nation/story_8467314.asp|url-status=live|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720031214/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1071024/asp/nation/story_8467314.asp|archive-date=July 20, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The organisation employs armed attacks to accomplish its goal<ref name="nevada_court_sentence" /> and is officially banned and [[List of designated terrorist groups|designated as an international terrorist organisation]] by the United States,<ref name="BkTerrorists1">{{Cite web|title=Terrorism Designations Press, Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, US States Department, 2004|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123086.htm|access-date=August 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="BkTerrorists2">{{Cite web|title=Individuals and Entities Designated by the State Department Under E.O. 13224, Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, US States Department, 2004|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/143210.htm|access-date=August 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Canada,<ref name="BkTerrorists4">[Cold Terror: How Canada Nurtures and Exports Terrorism Around the World, Stewart Bell, John Wiley & Sons, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-470-84056-6}}]</ref><ref name="PublicSecurityCanadaCurrentlyListedEntities2"/> the United Kingdom,<ref name="auto">{{cite act|number=11|year=2000|article=2|title=[[Terrorism Act 2000]]|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/schedule/2|articletype=Schedule|access-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121085241/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/schedule/2|archive-date=January 21, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> the European Union,<ref name="EU list of terrorist groups">{{cite web|title=EU list of terrorist groups|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_144/l_14420050608en00540058.pdf|access-date=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Officially Blacklisted Extremist/Terrorist (Support) Organizations: a Comparison of Lists from six Countries and two International Organizations|jstor = 26298448|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26298448|last1 = Freedman|first1 = Benjamin|journal = Perspectives on Terrorism|year = 2010|volume = 4|issue = 2|pages = 46–52}}</ref> Japan<ref name="Japan_ban" /> and India.<ref name="MHA_BanList">{{cite web|title=List of Banned Organisations|url=https://mha.gov.in/banned-organisations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503233101/https://mha.gov.in/banned-organisations|archive-date=3 May 2018|access-date=3 May 2018|website=Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI|publisher=Government of India}}</ref>

BKI was created in 1978 after [[1978 Sikh–Nirankari clashes|clashes]] with the [[Nirankari]] sect of Sikhs.<ref name="Wright-Neville2010">{{cite book|last=Wright-Neville|first=David|title=Dictionary of Terrorism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N1IDEHn5MoUC&pg=PA46|access-date=19 June 2010|year=2010|publisher=Polity|isbn=978-0-7456-4302-1|pages=46–}}</ref> It was active throughout the 1980s in the [[Punjab insurgency]] and gained international notoriety in June 1985, for killing 329 civilians (mostly Canadians) in [[Air India Flight 182]] in Canada's worst case of mass murder<ref name="dowd">{{cite news|last=Dowd|first=Allan|date=18 September 2010|title="Canadian convicted of lying in Air India bomb case", Reuters Sept 18, 2010|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68H1W220100918|url-status=live|access-date=19 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230123151/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68H1W220100918|archive-date=December 30, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Men acquitted in Air India bombings |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7210490 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> and for the associated [[1985 Narita International Airport bombing]]{{snd}}a bungled attempt at mass murder on a second Air India flight on the same day.<ref name="Bobrae">{{cite web|title=Lessons to be learned|date=December 21, 2018 |url=https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/lssns-lrnd/index-en.aspx|access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref> Its influence declined in the 1990s after several of its senior leaders were killed in encounters with Indian police.<ref name="Wright-Neville2010" />

==Creation==
The name ''Babbar Khalsa'' is taken from the [[Babbar Akali Movement]] of 1920, which fought against the [[British Rule of India]]. The modern-day Babbar Khalsa was created in 1978 by [[Talwinder Singh Parmar|Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar]]<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Speech by Jathedaar Talwinder Singh Babbar (1)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBH6EkwM3GE|language=en|access-date=2021-06-16}}. This is the speech of Jathedar Talwinder Singh Parmar. In this video Sikh sangat call Talwinder Singh Parmar on stage by calling president and jathedar of Babbar Khalsa.</ref> and [[Jathedar]] [[Sukhdev Singh Babbar]] as an offshoot of [[Akhand Kirtani Jatha]] with the support of Bibi Amarjit Kaur. Talwinder Singh Babbar was the president<ref name=":0" /> of Babbar Khalsa International, with Sukhdev Singh Babbar as co-leader. After a bloody clash on 13 April 1978 between a group of [[Amritdhari]] Sikhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha{{Explain|reason=|date=November 2020}} and a gathering of the rival [[Nirankari]] sect, BKI was created to exact revenge.<ref name="FairGanguly2008"/><ref name="SATP_BKI">{{cite web|title=Babbar Khalsa International|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/terrorist_outfits/BKI.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401183144/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/terrorist_outfits/BKI.htm|archive-date=April 1, 2015|access-date=18 July 2018|website=SATP.org|publisher=South Asia Terrorism Portal|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On 13 April 1978, the day to celebrate the birth of [[Khalsa]], a peaceful [[Sant Nirankari Mission|Sant Nirankari]] convention was organized in Amritsar to start a new religion with the concept of ''panj pyarre as sath sitare'',{{Explain|reason=|date=November 2020}} with permission from the Akali state government.{{Explain|reason=|date=November 2020}} The practices of the "Sant Nirankaris" sect of Nirankaris were considered heresy as the act was intentionally politically motivated to offend Sikh sentiments, but was opposed by Sikh orthodox leader [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]].<ref name="Cynthia_Taksal78">{{cite book |last1=Mahmood |first1=Cynthia Keppley |title=Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants |date=1996 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=9780812215922 |page=78 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FqvTRUrwt2UC |access-date=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162158/https://books.google.com/books?id=FqvTRUrwt2UC |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> From [[Golden Temple]] premises,<ref name="Guha_IndiaGandhi">{{cite book |last1=Guha |first1=Ramachandra |title=India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy |date=2008 |publisher=Macmillan  |isbn=9780330396110 |edition=illustrated, reprint |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29lXtwoeA44C |access-date=10 July 2018}} [https://scroll.in/article/732426/the-bhindranwale-cult-how-politics-allowed-an-obscure-preacher-to-challenge-indian-democracy Excerpts]</ref>  Bhindranwale delivered an angry sermon in which he declared that he would not allow this convention and would ''go there and cut them to pieces.''<ref name="satp prophet"/> A procession of about two hundred Sikhs led by Bhindranwale and Fauja Singh of the [[Akhand Kirtani Jatha]] left the Golden Temple, heading towards the Nirankari Convention.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Mark|last1=Tully|first2=Satish|last2=Jacob|title=Amritsar: Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle|url=https://archive.org/details/amritsarmrsgandh00tull|url-access=registration|date=1985|page=[https://archive.org/details/amritsarmrsgandh00tull/page/59 59]}}</ref> Fauja attempted to behead Nirankari chief [[Gurbachan Singh]] with his sword but was shot dead by Gurbachan's bodyguard, while Bhindranwale escaped.<ref name="satp prophet"/> In the [[1978 Sikh-Nirankari clash|ensuing violence]], several people were killed: two of Bhindranwale's followers, eleven members of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and three Nirankaris.<ref name="satp prophet">{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/nightsoffalsehood/falsehood4.htm|title=Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood -- Psalms of Terror|website=Satp.org|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014135815/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/nightsoffalsehood/falsehood4.htm|archive-date=October 14, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> This event brought Bhindranwale to limelight in the media.<ref name="IT_Rise">{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Chandan |title=Bhindranwale's rise from a small-time priest was meteoric |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/india-today-35th-anniversary/story/20111226-india-today-newsmake-of-1980s-jarnail-singh-bhindranwale-750018-2011-12-15 |access-date=6 July 2018 |work=India Today 35th anniversary |publisher=India Today |date=15 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706161850/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/india-today-35th-anniversary/story/20111226-india-today-newsmake-of-1980s-jarnail-singh-bhindranwale-750018-2011-12-15 |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

A criminal case was filed against sixty-two Nirankaris by the Akali-led government in Punjab. The case was heard in the neighbouring [[Haryana]] state, and all the accused were acquitted.<ref name="Cynthia_Taksal79">{{cite book |last1=Mahmood |first1=Cynthia Keppley |title=Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants |date=1996 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=9780812215922 |page=79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FqvTRUrwt2UC |access-date=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162158/https://books.google.com/books?id=FqvTRUrwt2UC |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Punjab government Chief Minister [[Prakash Singh Badal]] decided not to appeal the decision.<ref>Cynthia Keppley Mahmood, Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996, pp. 58–60; Gopal Singh, A History of the Sikh People, New Delhi, World Book Center, 1988, p. 739.</ref> The case of Nirankaris received widespread support in the media.<ref name="Cynthia_Taksal79"/>  Bhindranwale increased his rhetoric against the enemies{{according to whom|date=October 2019}} of Sikhs. A letter of authority was issued by [[Akal Takht]] to ostracise the Sant Nirankaris. A sentiment was created to justify extrajudicial killings of the perceived enemies of Sikhism.<ref>Singh (1999), pp. 365–66.</ref> The chief proponents of this attitude were Babbar Khalsa founded by [[Talwinder Singh Parmar|Talwinder Singh Babbar]] and followers of the widow, Bibi Amarjit Kaur of the [[Akhand Kirtani Jatha]], whose husband Fauja Singh had been at the head of the march in Amritsar; the Damdami Taksal led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who had also been in Amritsar on the day of the outrage; the Dal Khalsa, formed with the object of demanding a sovereign Sikh state; and the [[All India Sikh Students Federation]], which was banned by the government.

Babbar Khalsa started targeting people who sympathised with the Nirankaris.<ref name="SATP_BKI"/> In the subsequent years following this event, several murders took place in Punjab and the surrounding areas allegedly by Bhindranwale's group and the new Babbar Khalsa.<ref name="Cynthia_Taksal79"/> The Babbar Khalsa activists took up residence in the Golden Temple, where they would retreat to, after committing "acts of punishment" on people against the orthodox Sikh tenets. Police did not enter the temple complex to avoid hurting the sentiments of Sikhs.<ref name="Cynthia_Taksal79"/> On 24 April 1980, the Nirankari head, Gurbachan was murdered.<ref name="gill2017punjab">{{cite book |last1=Gill |first1=K.P.S. and Khosla, S |title=Punjab: The Enemies Within : Travails of a Wounded Land Riddled with Toxins |date=2017 |publisher=Bookwise (India) Pvt. Limited  |isbn=9788187330660 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n3zHAQAACAAJ |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621015737/https://books.google.com/books?id=n3zHAQAACAAJ |archive-date=June 21, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} [http://www.jantakareporter.com/blog/operation-blue-star-bhindranwale/123753/ Excerpt]</ref> A member of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Ranjit Singh, surrendered and admitted to the assassination three years later, and was sentenced to serve thirteen years at the [[Tihar Jail]] in Delhi.

According to [[C. Christine Fair]], Babbar Khalsa was opposed to Bhindranwale and more concerned with propagating sectarian violence and enforcing Sikh personal law than supporting [[Khalistan movement]].<ref name="FairGanguly2008">{{cite book|last1=Fair|first1=C. Christine|last2=Ganguly|first2=Šumit|title=Treading on hallowed ground: counterinsurgency operations in sacred spaces|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L2E1NpYuOrsC&pg=PA41|access-date=19 June 2010|date=September 2008|publisher=Oxford University Press US|isbn=978-0-19-534204-8|page=41}}</ref>

==Financing==
The group receives funds and support from its supporters within the Sikh community, that are largely located in Europe and North America.<ref name="Neville_Dict">{{cite book |last1=Neville |first1=David Wright |title=Dictionary of Terrorism |date=2010 |publisher=Polity |isbn=9780745643021 |page=46 |edition=Illustrated |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgmXxoLHv8MC&q=babbar+khalsa |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225711/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgmXxoLHv8MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=CIA+babbar+khalsa&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0kJ3YkKvcAhWZaCsKHV56AcoQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=babbar%20khalsa&f=false |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Historically, to get the financial and material support needed for operating terrorist activities, BKI has used in-person meetings, public rallies and fundraising events. Babbar organized  and featured at Sikh rallies and fundraisers across Canada. Babbar was instrumental in channeling financial support to BKI from overseas Sikh communities.<ref name="mackenzieinstitute" /> BKI is sponsored by Germany-based extremist organisations with an aim to revive an armed conflict in the Indian Punjab.<ref name="mackenzieinstitute">{{cite web |title=Babbar Khalsa International |url=http://mackenzieinstitute.com/babbar-khalsa-international-bki-3/ |website=mackenzieinstitute.com |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221140409/http://mackenzieinstitute.com/babbar-khalsa-international-bki-3/ |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Presence==
BKI militants have their presence outside of India in Pakistan, North America, Europe and Scandinavia.<ref name="PublicSecurityCanadaCurrentlyListedEntities2"/> BKI at present is active in the US, Canada, the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Pakistan.<ref name="SATP_BKI"/> BKI continues its operations from Pakistan with the support of Pakistan's [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] (ISI).<ref name="mackenzieinstitute"/> According to Indian sources the group has its headquarters in Lahore, Pakistan.<ref name="TelegraphHQ">{{cite news |title=Enter Gurpreet, the Bilal of Ludhiana |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1071024/asp/nation/story_8467314.asp |access-date=19 July 2018 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=24 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720031214/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1071024/asp/nation/story_8467314.asp |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="FirstPost_Base">{{cite news |title=India, Canada resolve to work together against Sikh militant outfits, terrorist groups like JeM, LeT |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-canada-resolve-to-work-together-against-sikh-militant-outfits-terrorist-groups-like-jem-let-4364497.html |access-date=19 July 2018 |publisher=FirstPost |date=23 Feb 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022639/https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-canada-resolve-to-work-together-against-sikh-militant-outfits-terrorist-groups-like-jem-let-4364497.html |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1992, Talwinder Singh Babbar split from the BKI and formed the Babbar Khalsa (Babbar) faction. This happened after serious differences erupted between Babbar and BKI's leadership. The Babbar faction has a presence in the UK, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.<ref name="SATP_BKI"/>

===Banned===
It is officially banned and [[List of designated terrorist groups|designated as an international terrorist organisation]] by several countries. 
*[[Canada]] banned the group in 2003.<ref name="PublicSecurityCanadaCurrentlyListedEntities2"/><ref name=BkTerrorists4/>
*[[European Union]]<ref name="EU list of terrorist groups"/>
*[[India]].<ref name="MHA_BanList"/>
*[[Japan]]<ref name="Japan_ban">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2002/7/0705.html |title= 0705 |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406134416/http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2002/7/0705.html |archive-date=2013-04-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Malaysia]]<ref>http://www.moha.gov.my/images/maklumat_bahagian/KK/kdndomestic.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.moha.gov.my/images/maklumat_bahagian/KK/kdndomestic.pdf |date=October 9, 2022 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>
*[[United Kingdom]]<ref name="auto"/>
*[[United States]],<ref name=BkTerrorists1/><ref name=BkTerrorists2/> In April 2004, the United States added BKI and the [[ISYF]], to its terror list, allowing the US to deny entry (and to deport) any of its members.<ref name=USterrorlist>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3674827.stm | work = BBC News | title = Indian groups join US terror list | date = 2004-04-30 | access-date = December 17, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040714131625/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3674827.stm | archive-date = July 14, 2004 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

==Activities==
Babbar Khalsa kept up a low level of activity until 1983.<ref name="FairGanguly2008"/> Very few security personnel may have become members of Babbar Khalsa.

Some terrorists acts done in Canada, India and Germany have been claimed in the name of Babbar Khalsa.<ref name="Crenshaw_Encyclo">{{cite book |last1=Crenshaw |first1=Martha, John Pimlott |title=International Encyclopedia of Terrorism |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135919665 |page=736 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j4p4CAAAQBAJ&q=babbar+khalsa&pg=PT736 |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721014425/https://books.google.com/books?id=j4p4CAAAQBAJ&lpg=PT770&dq=CIA%2Bbabbar%2Bkhalsa&pg=PT736#v=onepage&q=babbar%20khalsa&f=false |archive-date=July 21, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> During his residence in Canada, Babbar continued to lead BKI activities. He was involved in terror financing, recruitment and radicalization of Sikh youths, procurement of small arms and explosives, and the development and coordination of terrorist attacks.<ref name="mackenzieinstitute"/> After [[Operation Blue Star]] the organisation fell into disarray but was able to regroup and remained active.<ref name="FairGanguly2008"/>

===1980s===
On the morning of November 19, 1981, Police Inspector Pritam Singh Bajwa and Constable Surat Singh of Jalandhar were gunned down in [[Daheru]] village nearby Khanna in [[Ludhiana district]]. The militants, who were hiding in the house of Amarjit Singh Nihang, all managed to escape. This act gained Babbar Khalsa and its chief [[Talwinder Singh Parmar|Talwinder Singh Babbar]] notoriety. Named in the [[first information report]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010521/punjab1.htm |website=www.tribuneindia.com |access-date=19 July 2018 |date=20 May 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043524/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010521/punjab1.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> were Wadhawa Singh (current Babbar Khalsa chief, now residing in Pakistan), [[Talwinder Singh Parmar|Talwinder Singh Babbar]], Amarjit Singh Nihang, Amarjit Singh (Head Constable), Sewa Singh (Head Constable) and Gurnam Singh (Head Constable).

On June 23, 1985: BKI militants bombed [[Air India Flight 182]] going from Montreal, Canada to New Delhi, India. An [[improvised explosive device]] placed inside the cargo hold of the [[Boeing 747]] destroyed the plane with an explosion at an altitude of 31,000 feet in Irish airspace and it crashed into the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. All 329 passengers were killed, including 268 Canadian, 27 British and 24 Indian citizens.<ref name="mackenzieinstitute"/> Babbar and [[Inderjit Singh Reyat]] were arrested by the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP) on explosive charges, linking the two to the Air India Flight 182 bombing and [[1985 Narita International Airport bombing]]. Babbar was acquitted of all charges. [[Inderjit Singh Reyat]] admitted to building the bomb, was convicted in the Air India bombing.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ottawa |first=The |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9bfcf081-3b29-45ea-8bb3-ad82c051bcbb |title=Air India bomb maker sent to holding center |publisher=Canada.com |date=2008-02-09 |access-date=2009-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109171020/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9bfcf081-3b29-45ea-8bb3-ad82c051bcbb |archive-date=2012-11-09 }}</ref> Reyat a member of the [[ISYF]], was found guilty of manslaughter for making the bombs and had to spend more than 20 years in prison at Canada, and is the only individual convicted in these attacks as of 9 Feb 2009.<ref name="ISYFlink">{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/mayor/kens-adviser-is-linked-to-terror-group-6640438.html|title=Ken's adviser is linked to terror group|last=Gilligan|first=Andrew|date=2008-04-21|publisher=The London Evening Standard|access-date=2009-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612112108/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23479477-details/Ken's+adviser+is+linked+to+terror+group/article.do|archive-date=2009-06-12|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9bfcf081-3b29-45ea-8bb3-ad82c051bcbb|title=Air India bombmaker sent to holding centre|last=Bolan|first=Kim|date=February 9, 2008|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=2009-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109171020/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9bfcf081-3b29-45ea-8bb3-ad82c051bcbb|archive-date=November 9, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/convicted-air-india-bomb-builder-inderjit-singh-reyat-gets-bail-1.732447|title=Convicted Air India bomb-builder Inderjit Singh Reyat gets bail|date=July 9, 2008|publisher=CBC News|access-date=2009-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710234916/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/09/bc-air-india-reyat-bail.html|archive-date=July 10, 2008|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182 concluded that, regarding Talwinder Singh Babbar, "[it] is now believed that he was the leader of the conspiracy to bomb Air India flights"<ref>[http://www.ialeia.org/files/docs/dossier2_ENG.pdf DOSSIER 2 TERRORISM, INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT – CANADA’S RESPONSE TO SIKH TERRORISM February 19, 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143902/http://www.ialeia.org/files/docs/dossier2_ENG.pdf |date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref>

Five Babbar Khalsa members from Montreal were arrested May 30, 1986, for another plot to bomb Air India flights out of New York City. Newspaper editor Tara Singh Hayer was targeted with a bomb at his office in January 1986. Just weeks later, Sikhs from the [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] temple along with Air India bombing suspects Talwinder Singh Babbar and Ajaib Singh Bagri were arrested after being wiretapped discussing blowing up the Parliament and kidnapping children of MPs in India. Visiting Punjabi Cabinet Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu was ambushed in Canada, surviving being shot in March 1986 by four gunmen.<ref>[http://www.umanitoba.ca/arts/ppsa/papers/Zekulin.PPSA.2010.doc "Using the Events of Air India to Explain Canada’s Anti-terrorism Legislation" Michael Zekulin Department of Political Science University of Calgary Paper, presented at 2010 Annual Meeting of the Prairie Political Science Association University of Manitoba, October 1–2, 2010]{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===1990s===
On 8 January 1990, [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] in co-operation with Babbar Khalsa, killed DSP Gobind Ram in a bomb blast.

On 7 September 1991, eight Babbar Khalsa militants had an encounter with [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]] personnel near the village of [[Maujiya]]. On the militants' side, three were killed: Khem Singh Babbar, Paramjeet Singh Babbar and Gurmail Singh Babbar. The encounter lasted for 24 hours.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

On 31 August 1995, [[Dilawar Singh Babbar]] assassinated Punjab Chief Minister [[Beant Singh (chief minister)|Beant Singh]] in a [[suicide bomber|suicide bomb]] attack at the civil secretariat in [[Chandigarh]].<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040123/asp/nation/story_2817255.asp The Telegraph, Calcutta, India, "Beant trial trio in tunnel getaway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050915060500/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040123/asp/nation/story_2817255.asp |date=September 15, 2005 }} 22 January 2004</ref> Dilawar claimed allegiance to the Babbar Khalsa and four other members of the Babbar Khalsa were named responsible for the killing of Beant Singh.

===2000s===
In 2007, Babbar Khalsa militants were arrested by the Punjab police for a bombing at the Shingar Cinema Complex in [[Ludhiana]] on 14 October 2007, in which 6 people were killed and 37 wounded. The police also recovered 2 pistols, 5.10&nbsp;kg of [[RDX]] and 3 detonators from them. The militants had gone to Pakistan with a Sikh [[Jatha]] for pilgrimage, where they received the training for making bombs. The group received explosive devices from Pakistan across the international border in [[Bikaner]], [[Rajasthan]].<ref name="TOI_BK_Arrest_theater">{{cite news |title=4 Babbar Khalsa men held for Ludhiana cinema blast |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/4-Babbar-Khalsa-men-held-for-Ludhiana-cinema-blast/articleshow/2663186.cms |access-date=19 July 2018 |agency=TNN |work=The Times of India |date=31 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726203735/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/4-Babbar-Khalsa-men-held-for-Ludhiana-cinema-blast/articleshow/2663186.cms |archive-date=July 26, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blast in Ludhiana cinema hall: 6 dead, 30 hurt |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/14punjab1.htm |website=rediff |access-date=19 July 2018 |date=15 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119204821/http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/14punjab1.htm |archive-date=November 19, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===2010s===
Four Babbar Khalsa International UK members were arrested and later bailed in July 2010 in connection with the murder of a Sikh leader in Punjab, India.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Jerome |date=14 July 2010 |title=Four Britons bailed over murder of politician in Punjab |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/four-britons-bailed-over-murder-of-politician-in-punjab-2026750.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619062809/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/four-britons-bailed-over-murder-of-politician-in-punjab-2026750.html |archive-date=June 19, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In March 2017, Balwinder Singh, the head of Babbar Khalsa's operations in the United States, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by [[Nevada]] [[U.S. district judge]] for conspiracy to launch a terrorist attack in India in 2013.<ref name="reno">{{cite web |last1=Torres-Cortez |first1=Ricardo |title=India native living in Reno sentenced in terrorist plot |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/07/india-native-living-in-reno-sentenced-in-terrorist/ |website=LasVegasSun.com |access-date=19 July 2018 |language=en |date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719143129/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/07/india-native-living-in-reno-sentenced-in-terrorist/ |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Singh pleaded guilty to providing funding and materials to a co-conspirator, who was to travel to India to assassinate or maim an Indian government official. The target government official was to be determined upon the co-conspirator's arrival.<ref name="nevada_court_sentence">{{cite web |title=Reno Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Provide Material Support To Terrorists |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/reno-man-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-provide-material-support-terrorists |website=The United States Attorney's Office District of Nevada |access-date=19 July 2018 |language=en |date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719113739/https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/reno-man-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-provide-material-support-terrorists |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Decline==
The crackdown on Sikh militant organisations by the Indian Government in the early 1990s, followed by government infiltration of the Khalistan movement and the various militant organisations respectively, greatly weakened the Babbar Khalsa, ultimately leading to the death of [[Sukhdev Singh Babbar]] (9 August 1992) and [[Talwinder Singh Parmar|Talwinder Singh Babbar]] (15 October 1992). Babbar had been killed by Indian police in a gunfight per the official sources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia/key_characters.html#parmar |title=CBC News In Depth: Air India – Bombing of Air India Flight 182 |publisher=Cbc.ca |access-date=2009-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620011917/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia/key_characters.html#parmar |archive-date=June 20, 2010 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Despite setbacks incurred in the early nineties, Babbar Khalsa is still active underground, although not to the extent it once was. Current leadership resides with Wadhawa Singh Babbar.<ref name="Express_US to freeze assets of Babbar Khalsa2002">{{cite web |agency=Reuters |url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=12067 |title=US to freeze assets of Babbar Khalsa, Intl Sikh Youth Federation Anita Inder Singh Jun&nbsp;28, 2002 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=19 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316095930/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=12067 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Jagtar Singh Hawara]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Air India Flight 182}}
{{India separatist movements}}
{{Terror outfits}}

[[Category:Sikh politics]]
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by the European Union]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Canada]]
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by India]]
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist]]
[[Category:Sikh terrorism]]
[[Category:Rebel groups in India]]
[[Category:Designated terrorist organizations associated with Sikhism]]
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by Japan]]
[[Category:Insurgency in Punjab]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Malaysia]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1978]]
[[Category:Air India Flight 182]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by the United States]]
[[Category:Pro-Khalistan militant outfits]]